Higher Savings Needed for Higher
Economic Growth
The Planning Commission has warned
that the present savings rate of
28-29% could merely ensure a GDP
growth rate of about 7.5 per cent and
higher savings and foreign direct
investment (FDI) is necessary to get a
growth of 8-9% in the 11th financial
plan.<More>

Democracy, Politics and
Judiciary

Budgetary Quota Plan
A sub-group of Ministers on
financial controls have
agreed to propose to the
Federal Government is
considering a proposal that
will create a budgetary
quota of 22.5% for
Scheduled Castes (SC) and
Scheduled Tribes (ST)
welfare.<More>

GoM Stops Pvt Sector Quota
Proposal
A Group of Ministers (GoM)
headed by Federal
Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar have ruled that the
proposal to reserve
employment in the private
sector is not politically
desirable, feasible, or
legal and has asked that
the proposal be shelved.<More>

Environment, Health and Education

Diabetes and Fizz Soda
After introducing a plan to curb smoking in movies,
Federal Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss is now asking
movie actors and cricketers to stop being brand
ambassadors to aerated drinks to curb obesity and
diabetes among children.<More>

Central Tobacco Authority Being Planned
Federal Minister of Health Anbumani Ramdoss said that a
Central Tobacco Authority (CTA) with unprecedented
powers to implement the provisions of the Tobacco Act is
being planned and revealed in the next couple of
months.<More>

Terrorism,
Defense, Security and Science &
Technology

Harpoons Missiles for Pakistan
The George Bush Administration has notified the US
Congress that it will sell Harpoon Block II anti-ship
missiles and related equipment and services valued at
USD 370 million to Pakistan, seen as a “key ally” in the
“war on terror” and a “friendly nation.”<More>

China Firm on Fighting Terror
China vowed to strengthen coordination efforts and
support for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) “To fight the
‘three evil forces’ including the ‘East Turkistan’ force
and safeguard security and stability in the region.<More>

Neighbors

Indo-Sino Relations in “new phase”
Indian Minister for Petroleum and
Natural Gas Murli Deora met
Chinese President Hu Jintao on the
sidelines of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO)
meeting and learnt that China
views that its relationship with
India has entered a “new phase.”<More>

Pak Destroys Lahore Hindu Temple
Violating the Nehru-Liaquat pact that
prohibits the destruction of religions
places in either country, Pakistan has
reportedly destroyed a Hindu temple in
Lahore to build a 4-storey commercial
complex; Pakistan denies this report and
says the temple is intact.<More>

World

SCO to Resist US?
The Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) ended its
fifth meeting last week with
a powerful message from Iran
asking China, Russia, and
other Central Asian nations
to combine their diplomatic,
economic, and political
clout to resist the US.<More>

Bringing Economic Focus to
Indo-Japan Ties
With Indo-Japan relations
not growing at the right
pace, both countries have
signed an accord that will
“meet the needs of Japanese
investors” and “address
India’s needs” to ensure
“strategic importance of
both countries” are met.<More>

China vowed to
strengthen coordination
efforts and support for
the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization Regional
Anti-Terrorism Structure
(RATS) “To fight the
‘three evil forces’
including the ‘East
Turkistan’ force and
safeguard security and
stability in the region.